The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-04-29
HOW A sHREwD GRANDMOTHER
SECURED 4 HOME FOR THE
BOYS,

Morton and Willis Lane, two great boys
of ii and 1G wears, were trimming over
with life and fun. They played ball, row
ed boats, practiced gymnastics, scraped on
violins, blew horns, whistled sang and
shouted, and thus relieved, as by safety
valves, their surplus animal spirit. This did
very well by day, but when night came or
storms ragged. they were like Gagged eagles.
If they went into the sitting room they
were forced to sit still lest they should
disturb their father. who was always clos
ing up his days accounts there. Ii they
went into the kitchen they were sure to
give offense to old Betty by leaving foot
prints on her well secured floor If they
drummed on the piano i'll the parlor they
disturbed their sisters study or made
somebody's head ache. So they too often
took mp their hats after tea and went Off to
sit on fence with other boys, or to rove
about town, whistling and singing and
shouting.
These boys We're in a fair. way to be
ruined for want of cheerful home shelter,
and they would have been but for one
blessing-they had grandmother who
thought their comfort and enjoyment of
more Importance than that ofan occasional
visitor Of their sisters, or beyy of conn
try cousins who came there twice year to
do shopping, and thus saved hotel bill
This good grandma had little money and
half dozen homes; so she was not afraid
to express her opinion on the subject, now
that she had come to them for long visit
Tie new house was being discussed again
one evening, and her opinion was asked
upon the matter.
david, she said to her son, what is
that large chamber for with the bay win
dows and two mantle pieees?.
''For company, MOTHER, was the reply.
"What company? Ididn't know yen ex-
pected any, said the shrcwd old lady.
"oh, for any one who happens along.
BY and by Emma will leave school and
have company, you know. James wife
and Cousin Hepsy come down twice year
to shop. and Away stay here a night or
two"
''But your own boys come here 10 sleep
365 nights in the year, and have thou
sand times the claim on you that any com
pany' have
eyes -
"What arrangements have you made for
them?'
And the father repeated the remark he
had made to his easy wife so often, that
''boys didn't care, and that they could
cuddle down to sleep anywhere.
''But these boys must not sleep anywhere
after the new house is done. Unless you
divide that long spare chamber into two
moderate sized ones, and give one to them,
| shall settle them in the room you have
planned for me and make my home with
Catherine She has plenty of room and is
always urging me to come to her. will
not crowd your boys out of 4 room
David Lane loved his mother, so the re-
suit was that the long spare chamber"
was finished So as TO meet the wants of the
boys.
Two happier boys never lived than these
two when the time came for furnishing and
ornamenting that room. Grandma took
the matter into her own hands, and said
they should have everything to their own
minds. as long as they kept within bounds.
Il ant inv ~
she asked when the house was nearly done.
''In the first place, we don't want a carpet,
because somebody would be always telling
us not TO kick holes in it. We don't want
black walnut furniture, nor a big looking
glass, nor china vases, nor anything grand
that scratches, or tears, or breaks, Nor
ton said.
''Well, what do you want, then?' said
their grandmother.
"Well, grandma, we want an oiled floor
and two ofyour great braided mats; and
an open fireplace, with your brass and
irons from the garret; and a big hearth,
where we can pop corn and roastnuts; and
we want bright wall paper, with pictures
of the country; and two little iron bed
steads, with blue spreads; four chairs,
painted blue; a glass case for our stuffed
birds; shelves for our books; and lots of
hooks to hang our bows and arrows, violin,
French horn, boxing gloves, bats and In
dian clubs on. These, with the old sitting
room lounge and the old easy chairs, will
make ms the most comfortable boys in the
world :
"lll go with you tomorrow 10 buy all
you want new, and it shall be present
from me to you, said the dear old lady.
Grandma, dear" said Willis. 1--WE don't
want single new thing. Let us have the
old things that nobody else wants; and
then well feel easy-besides, like the old
home things better than new store things.
Let MS have what father was going to send
OFF TO auction
: That is q good thought, dear boy,
said the grandmother. ''and week from
today We will begin to fashion this boys
paradise.
Before the month closed the Boys Par
adise" was complete, and a score of wise
fathers and mothers, with several scores
of less wise boys and girls, had been inyit-
ell 10 see it,